05-08-2016, 11:06 PM
Just to throw in something which I learned recently over here in the Czech Republic.
Coaching here is taken very seriously and there are few, if any, talented juniors without a GM coach. And if the young player hits a certain rating for their age group, the national federation pays them money. In the one instance I know of in detail, it equates to pretty much a year's worth of GM coaching over here.
I can't see that being a realistic option in Scotland in the short-term, but perhaps a scholarship fund could be set up for talented juniors - say 1 or 2 per year - allowing them to access top-quality coaching.
It would create a target and a competitive atmosphere among our top young players - alternatively it could be used to fund a week-long training camp in the summer/easter/October holidays? Just a thought.
Coaching here is taken very seriously and there are few, if any, talented juniors without a GM coach. And if the young player hits a certain rating for their age group, the national federation pays them money. In the one instance I know of in detail, it equates to pretty much a year's worth of GM coaching over here.
I can't see that being a realistic option in Scotland in the short-term, but perhaps a scholarship fund could be set up for talented juniors - say 1 or 2 per year - allowing them to access top-quality coaching.
It would create a target and a competitive atmosphere among our top young players - alternatively it could be used to fund a week-long training camp in the summer/easter/October holidays? Just a thought.